Outlook: Ask any coach or television commentator worth his salt and he’ll tell you that the secret to success in college basketball is seniors. The Hurricanes have six of them. It also doesn’t hurt to have a strong point guard-big man combination, as Miami does in senior center Reggie Johnson and sophomore playmaker Shane Larkin. If that’s enough, the Hurricanes also have a coach in Jim Larranaga who took George Mason to the Final Four in 2006.

Larranaga

In other words, all the elements are in place for Miami to have a breakout season.

Because of the depth and diversity of the veteran roster, Larranaga has plenty of flexibility to fit any circumstance.

He can go big with a frontcourt that includes a slimmed down Johnson, third-team All-ACC selection Kenny Kadji and a healthy Julian Gamble, who missed all last season with a knee injury. He can go small and quick with a stable of guards led by sophomore point Larkin, the son of baseball Hall of Famer Barry Larkin, slashing senior Durand Scott and highly touted freshman Bishop Daniels.

Larranaga also has the luxury of dialing up some instant offense off the bench in junior sharpshooter Rion Brown or turning to a shutdown defender in Trey McKinney-Jones.

It’s the kind of roster that, if it lives up to its potential, might finally get people talking about college basketball in South Florida. At least, when the NBA champion Miami Heat isn’t at home.

Quotable quote: “We’ve got a heck of a team, and I mean that with passion. I get chills just thinking about it. We’re going to be scary good, as long as we come to work. At every position we have, we’re deep. Practice is a war, which is the way Coach L likes it.” Senior center Reggie Johnson.

Projection: If you’re searching for a darkhorse pick in the ACC this season, look no further than the Hurricanes. Think last year’s championship Florida State team.

Larkin

Like the 2011-12 Seminoles, Miami has an abundance of experienced talent and depth at every position on the floor. It has potential stars in Johnson, Kadji and Larkin, to go along with a bevy of solid role players. It also has a successful veteran coach whose system is now fully installed.

About the only thing that stands in the Hurricanes’ way of contending for an ACC title and an NCAA tournament bid is themselves.

Though they’ve won 19 or more games in each of the past five seasons, only once during that time have they made it into the field of 68. If Larranaga can develop some chemistry among all those talented players while finding a way to avoid Miami’s customary slow start in league play, this could finally be the year the Hurricanes get over the hump.